The eggplant emoji is too rude for Instagram!

Although you can now search Instagram posts by emoji, it has blocked results containing the eggplant emoji given its phallic nature and frequent use in rude posts.

Although Instagram has not officially commented on #eggplantgate, it reportedly told MTV news that it made the eggplant emoji unsearchable because it is commonly used with photos and videos that breach community guidelines.

Users have commented that it is strange that the humble eggplant has been given the boot, while cigarette and gun emoji posts remain able to be searched.

But, fear not eggplant lovers – you can still use the eggplant emoji and tag it in posts, it just won’t appear in searches!